Midfield target teases Chelsea after dropping big hint over West Ham future

Declan Rice TEAMtalk

West Ham star Declan Rice has dropped his strongest hint yet that he could be ready to move on, as Chelsea continue to track the midfielder.

The England star has been on Frank Lampard’s radar ever since he took over at Stamford Bridge.

Lampard is keen on signing the 21-year-old and using him as a centre-back, rather than his normal holding midfield role.

However, Rice has continually stated that he is happy at the London Stadium. Hammers boss David Moyes, meanwhile, also insists that the player will not be sold.

But Rice now admits that his major goal is to win trophies, something he arguably has a better chance of doing at Chelsea.

He told Sky Sports: “You want to be successful for club and country. I think it’s an important thing to win trophies.

“I’m only 21 but to get those highs of your career you need to win stuff. That’s what I want to do.”

Rice’s comments are sure to be music to Lampard’s ears. However, it could cost as much as £80m to get his man, as West Ham hold out for the best possible price.


Subscribe for free to TEAMtalk’s daily newsletter…


 

Lampard has plans for Blues ace

Frank Lampard has hailed Callum Hudson-Odoi’s “constant improvements” in mapping out a long career at Chelsea for the England forward.

Hudson-Odoi fired the Blues into an early lead at Rennes on Tuesday night with a composed finish after Mason Mount’s perfectly weighted through-ball.

The 20-year-old faces an intense battle simply to take the field this term, given the number and quality of Chelsea’s summer recruits.

 

He was the subject of intense interest from Bayern Munich in the summer with Chelsea turning down a loan move with a £70m purchase clause.

Boss Lampard insisted, however, that Hudson-Odoi’s so-far limited chances hold no bearing on his status now, or in the future, in west London.

“I’m seeing constant improvements from him; I knew he’d had a couple of good performances for the England Under-21s last week,” Lampard told Chelsea’s website.

“I know he wants more minutes, but I have competition in that area.

“If he isn’t getting minutes in a period it doesn’t mean he is out of favour with me. He certainly isn’t.

“He is still a developing player, to a degree.

“The bit of quality he shows with the first two touches before he got his shot away was top class; I know he can do that.

“There are loads of great things about Callum, and I know there are things he can improve in his game. He knows that.

“He is a big player for Chelsea, he has a big future with us. His all-round game was fantastic, and he got his goal too.”